SAG-AFTRA videogame voice actors and motion-capture performers will go on strike starting Friday, July 26, 2024, against the video game industry over unresolved issues concerning artificial intelligence (AI) protections bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood.

The SAG-AFTRA on Thursday (July 25), says the strike comes after over 18 months of negotiations without reaching a deal.

The decision to strike was made by SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, under the guidance of the SAG-AFTRA National Board and the unanimous advice of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee.

The union has been negotiating with major video game companies, including Activision Productions Inc, Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc, Electronic Arts Productions Inc, Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc, Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc, VoiceWorks Productions Inc, and WB Games Inc.

“Although agreements have been reached on many issues important to SAG-AFTRA members, the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their AI language,” the union said in a statement.

Central to the strike are the demands for AI protections for union members. Any game that seeks to employ SAG-AFTRA talent must now adhere to one of the newly established agreements: the Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement, or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement.

The SAG-AFTRA also represents the film and television actors who went on strike in July last year over concerns of inadequate safeguards against artificial intelligence (AI), putting Hollywood in the midst of two simultaneous work stoppages for the first time in 63 years.

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher in voicing the union’s frustration said, “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate.”

Sarah Elmaleh, Chair of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee, reinforced the union’s stance against exploitation. “Eighteen months of negotiations have shown us that our employers are not interested in fair, reasonable AI protections, but rather flagrant exploitation. We refuse this paradigm – we will not leave any of our members behind, nor will we wait for sufficient protection any longer.”

“We are disappointed the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations. We have already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions,” said Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the videogame producers party to the Interactive Media Agreement.